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Published on: January 25, 2018
An Online Cross-Sectional Survey of Complementary Feeding Practices during the COVID-19 Restrictions in Poland
Andrea Horvath1, Agata Stróżyk1, Piotr Dziechciarz1
1Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
Insights
COVID-19 restrictions minimally impacted infant feeding practices in Poland. Parents primarily relied on informal sources, though education and location influenced access to expert information on complementary feeding.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented restrictions globally.
- Understanding the impact on infant care, specifically complementary feeding, is crucial for public health.
- Parental information sources and practices require examination during such crises.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on complementary feeding practices in Polish infants (4-12 months).
- To identify primary sources of information utilized by parents during the pandemic.
- To explore factors influencing feeding practices and information seeking.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Poland.
- Data were collected from 6934 parents via anonymous questionnaires during COVID-19 restrictions.
- Analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Most parents (48.6%) received feeding information from informal sources (family, friends), followed by experts (40.8%).
- Restrictions showed minimal impact on feeding methods, patterns, or introduction timing, except in families with average financial situations.
- Higher parental education and urban residence correlated with seeking expert/online information.
Conclusions:
- Complementary feeding practices were largely resilient to COVID-19 restrictions in Poland.
- Informal networks remain a dominant information source, highlighting a need for improved dissemination of evidence-based guidance.
- Targeted public health initiatives may be needed to support informed feeding decisions, especially for vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
This cross-sectional online survey performed in Poland aimed to improve understanding of how COVID-19 pandemic restrictions affected complementary feeding practices among parents of infants aged 4 to 12 months. Self-selected parents were recruited through the internet. The anonymous questionnaire was opened during two intervals during COVID-19 restrictions. The primary outcome was an assessment of sources of information and infant feeding practices in the context of COVID-19 restrictions. Data from 6934 responders (92.2% mothers) were analyzed. Most responders received information from multiple sources, with other parents, family members, or friends being the most frequently reported (48.6%), followed by webinars and experts' recommendations (40.8%). COVID-19 restrictions largely did not impact the method of feeding, changes in feeding patterns, or complementary feeding introduction, although the latter was more likely to be impacted in families with average versus the best financial situations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also most consistently showed that parents with a tertiary education and living in a city above 500 k were at higher odds of using webinars/experts' recommendations, internet/apps, and professional expert guides and lower odds of claiming no need to deepen knowledge. This study clarifies major issues associated with complementary feeding practices during the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions in Poland.
